Friction-clutch.



PATENTED MAY 2, 1905.

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0. OHLSSON FRICTION CLUTCH.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 8. 1903.

woemtoz WWW Mal No. 788,554. PATENTED MAY 2, 1905. 0. OHLSSON.

FRICTION CLUTCH.

APPLICATION I-ILED SEPT. 6.1903.

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Z w m a v w. M WM m No. 788,554. PATBNTED MAY 2, 1905.

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FRICTION CLUTCH.

APPLICATION FILED $EPT.8.1903.

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UNITED STATES Patented May 2, 1905.

PATENT OEEIcE.

IVALLENBERG. OF STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN.

FRICTION-CLUTCH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 788,554, dated May 2,1905.

Application filed September 8,1903. Serial No. 172,215. 7

To all wholn it may concern.-

Be it known that I, OLOF OI-ILssoN, a subject of the King of Sweden andNorway, and a resident of Storgatan 14", Sodertelge, in the Kingdom ofSweden, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Friction-Olutches, of which the following is a specification, reference being hadtherein to the accompanying drawings.

My invention relates to friction-clutches; and it has for its principalobjects to provide a simple and inexpensive clutch that will effectivelyoperate when rotated in one direction and without the danger of becomingdisengaged from its cooperating device and will become and remainreleased from said device when operated in the reverse direction.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 illustrates in elevation acentrifugal creamseparator with an embodiment of my invention appliedthereto. Fig. 2 is a front view. greatly enlarged, of the clutchmechanism shown in Fig. 1 and with the clutch in operative position.Fig. 3 is a similar view to Fig. 2, showing the clutch in inoperative ordisengaged position. Fig. 4 is a partial longitudinal section of theclutch mechanism and with the key for holding the clutch to the shaftremoved. Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the shaft portion of the clutch.Fig. 6 is a front elevation of the wheel member of the clutch.

Similar characters represent like parts in all the figures of thedrawings.

A, Fig. l, is the casing or cylinder of a centrifugal cream-separator.

B is the revolving bowl of the separator, and O is the shaft of thesame.

I is a worm secured to or forming part of said shaft O and by means ofwhich the bowl B is rotated.

2 is a worm-wheel loosely journaled upon a shaft 3, which is supportedin suitable bearings to the frame of the machine. This wheel ispreferably provided with an oblong hub (see Fig. 4) in order that saidwheel shall have a more stable support upon its shaft. The shaft 3 isprovided with apinion 5, with which the driving-wheel 6 of the separator(see Fig.

1) engages. The object of the clutch mechanism, which will now bedescribed, is to engage the wheel 2 with the shaft 3 or to disengageitfrom said shaft. The end of the shaft 3 opposite the pinion 5 extendsbeyond the wheel 2 and is provided with an eccentric 7. 8 is a block orarm loosely journaled upon the eccentric 7 and is provided with aplurality of lugs 9, extending outward in the direction of saideccentric. The wheel 2 is provided with a rim or flange 10, with whichthe block 8 is adapted to frictionally engage.

11 is a key which passes through a hole in the eccentric 7 and projectslaterally between the projections 9 of the block 8. This key 11 and lugs9 form stops to limit the relative rotation of each other, so thateither the pin comes in contact with the lugs, or vice versa, thecontinuation of such rotation causing the two to move together, or, inother words, causing the eccentric 7 and its shaft 3 to move with theblock 8, or vice versa. This construction of lugs and key is notessential, as any connection which will permit the block 8 and theeccentric 7 to have limited play relatively to each other will be allthat is required. The movement of the block will be very similar to thatof a pitman, getting its movement from the rotary eccentric 7 and to andaway from the rim or flange 10 on the partial rotation of the shaft 3.It will be seen that when the shaft 3 moves in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 2 the eccentric-journal 7 will cause the block 8 to bindagainst the rim or flange 10, and consequently the wheel 2 will berotated, and the worm 1 will consequently be rotated, as also therevolving drum B of the separator. If, however, the shaft 3, andconsequently the eccentric 7 be moved in the opposite direction, theeccentric 7 will cause the block 8 to move away from the rim 10, asshown in Fig. 3, and the continuation of the movement of the shaft 3will cause the key 11 to strike against one of the lugs 9, and the block8 will be rotated with the shaft 3 in this position and with the bindingor outer portion of the block 8 separated at the same distance from therim 10 as when it first became disengaged from the same, so

that the rim 10 being out of engagement with the block 8 the wheel 2will remain stationary. Of course similar movements of the wheel inregard to the block will cause the same results. The inner surface 12 ofthe rim or flange of the wheel 2 is formed so that a portion of it isnearer to its axis or to the shaft 3 or its journal than any otherportion of the rim, and Ihave shown such portion in the form of a chord13 to said inner surface 12. This part 13 will always insure a completebinding contact-of the block 8 with said rim. The positions of the lugsand the projecting key or pin 11 should be placed relatively to eachother, so that the course through which the block 8 can move on itseccentricspindle 7 between the positions shown by parts in Figs. 2 and 3will constitute such a part of the eccentric-stroke that the block 8cannot pass beyond the center, as said block would otherwise, when itbinds the rim 10, cause too great a pressure on the eccentric 7, so ifsuch movements of the block extended beyond the center it would notengage the rim 10, but would remain inactive. The movementof the shaft 3in the direction of the arrow, Fig. 2, will cause the block 8 to turn inthe same direction, and when it first touches the rim 10 said block mayslide a short distance along said rim; but it will get tighter andtighter and finally bind the rim or the chord 13, so that the wheel 2will be forced to rotate with the shaft 3, the block 8 binding saidshaft and wheel firmly together. On the reverse movement of either thewheel or shaft the block may slide a short distance along the rim or thechord 13 before it becomes entirely disengaged from the same, when acontinued revolution of either the wheel or the shaft will prevent theother part from revolving. The

eccentric connection of the block 8 with the shaft 3 provides efficientand perfect means of clutching the shaft and wheel together and asreadily unclutching the same, when if the connection between theclutching device and the shaft of the wheel were concentric theefficiency of the clutch could not be as readily relied upon, as theclutching member would be very apt to slide upon the ring or wheelmember, as very frequently happens, and such sliding or slipping maycontinue for a number of revolutions, which is very detrimental to theefficiency of any machine with which a clutch is connected.

For thoroughly eflicient use of the clutching mechanism the block 8 whenin its disengaged or unclutched position, as shown in Fig. 3, should bebuilt to travel freely past the point of the rim 10 that is nearest tothe shaft or journal.

I do not limit myself to the precise construction shown and described,as many changes may be made in the same without departing from thespirit of my invention or sacrificing its principal advantages.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

A friction clutch comprising a ring or flanged member, the innerperiphery of the flange of said member being circular except at one partwhich is nearer the axis of said member than the remainder of saidperiphery, an eccentric within said ring member, and a cooperating armor block member journaled to said eccentric, whereby at a period of therevolution of one member, said cooperating member will be caused to bindthe flange of the other member and be clutched to the same, and meansfor permitting play between the cooperating member and its journal,whereby on the reverse revolution of either the ring member or saidjournal the two members will become disengaged from binding contact.

In witness whereof I have hereunto signed my name in the presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

OLOF OI-ILSSON. Witnesses:

ERNST SVANGVIST, ROBERT APELGREN.

